Metta is an uncommon yet significant female given name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word 'metta' which translates to 'love' or 'loving-kindness'. It is often associated with Buddhist philosophy and practice, embodying compassion, warmth, and goodwill towards all beings. The name Metta is not particularly tied to any specific cultural traditions beyond its Buddhist roots but has been adopted globally by parents who wish to convey these positive virtues through their child's name. In some cases, it may also be used as a middle or unisex name due to its gender-neutral nature and appealing sound.
The name Metta experienced significant popularity fluctuations over time, with peaks of up to 25 births in a single year (1924) and troughs as low as 5 births (multiple years between 1968 and 2019). The total number of births with the name Metta from 1880 to 2021 was 1,123.